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“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.”
Psalm 100:4
April 2, 2006 Sermon Notes
"Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Sacred Conversations series, part five
For if you forgive men when they sin against you,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
but if you do not forgive men their sins,
your Father will not forgive your sins."
–Matthew 6:12, 14-15 NIV
What bread is to our body, forgiveness is to our soul.
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This prayer reminds us of two great truths:
- God offers us forgiveness.
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." –Romans 5:8
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast." –Ephesians 2:8-9
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." –I John 1:9
- God's grace equips us to forgive others.
To be a forgiver, we must do three things: (Colossians 3:12-13)
- understand -- "Bear with each other …"
- forget -- "Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
- love -- "… put on love …"
This certainly does not mean that our forgiveness of others earns us the right to be forgiven. It is rather that God forgives only the penitent and that one of the chief evidences of true penitence is a forgiving spirit. Once our eyes have been opened to see the enormity of our offense against God, the injuries which others have done to us appear by comparison extremely trifling. If, on the other hand, we have an exaggerated view of the offenses of others, it proves that we have minimized our own. –John R. W. Stott
The Morning Meditation …
The greatest sign of our love for another person is the prayer we offer in that person’s behalf, whether friend or foe. When we pray for another person, ultimately it is only love that pours forth from our mouths and our hearts when conversation with this wonderful God is begun. It is no wonder the Bible tells us to pray for our enemies. For when we pray for them, we end up loving them and praying for their well-being—which is in direct opposition to annihilation or personal vengeance in the case of an enemy. Also, prayer changes us as much as it does the other person. Jesus said, “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” [Matthew 6:44-45b].
God works quietly and effectively when we pray and allow Him the freedom to accomplish in us and about us what He desires to do. Our task is to pray and let God be God!
–George Skramstad, 2006
14600 North Portland Oklahoma City, OK 73134 Phone: (405)755-2227 info@crossingsokc.org
